A Heated Debate Between Two Charismatic Geniuses: A Cardinal Fan (Jeff Lung) and a Tiger Fan (Allen Krause)

How Many Second Chances Make Too Many Second Chances?

My father’s words may have been cliche when he told me, “It’s not about whether or not you fall down, Jeff, it’s about whether or not you get back up”, but no words could have been more uplifting to my beaten, battered soul.

At the time, I was in the lowest place I had ever been.

Defeated. Destroyed. Desolated.

To say I had lost the will to live, that I didn’t care about anyone or anything anymore — including myself — can not be overstated.

I was, literally, done.

Until I started to believe — really, truly believe – that the cliche was right, that I could measure myself by my ability to get back up, that deep down inside, I had guts.

My situation proposed two options: give up and be nothing forever or fight like hell to be the best Jeffery Lung I could possibly be.

One second chance was all I needed. And I didn’t waste it.

It definitely wasn’t easy. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I f***ing did it. And I’m proud as hell to say I f***ing did it.

Of course, not everyone has the guts to get back up. And, somehow, those somebodies often find themselves with third and fourth and fifth chances.

But how many chances is too many chances, Charlie Sheen? How long before we ought to just give up on you like you’ve given up on yourself, Milton Bradley? Destructive behavior is destructive behavior, whether it’s a lifestyle, an addiction or anger management issues; and if one is not willing to help himself, then, in my opinion, he isn’t worth helping. Period.

There are too many other issues that the world and its resources should be concerned about. I think it’s time we send the Charlie Sheens of the world a message: we don’t care about you or your problems anymore. If you screw up, you’re done. No more chances, no more tries, no more fake mea culpas.

It didn’t work for Steve Howe.*

And after twenty plus years of insanity, I highly doubt it’s gonna work for a silver-spooned brat who just doesn’t get it (and by “it” I mean, life, in general).

9 Comments

Jeff,
Like his 80’s movie peer Robert Downey Jr, Charlie Sheen is still idolized even with his disruptive nature and unhealthy lifestyle. I do not condone his measure of severity to the dark side, but I do envy a slice of it to try on for size.
So I guess we get tolive our preverted exsistence through Sheen’s actions with no harm or foul to our bodies, minds or soul.
But this kind of action takes a toll on a man, even if he has a plethora of money and female companionship ( wheither free or otherwise).
But maybe it is all a final cry for help after doing more than one movie with his brother Emilio…..Maybe the carnage of “Men at Work” finally broke Sheen down…..Maybe he needs to do “Hot Shots 3- The Wrath of the Woobie”.

Jeff,
Good read. I think we all deserve a second chance. I know I have, you have, and many others have and have came back with a vengeance.
This dude needs to get his **** together. Get some help or something. Otherwise, he might get the ole’ eliminator….

The sad part (well, there are many sad parts) of the Charlie Sheen debacle is that CBS was an enabler for such a long time, because his sitcom was their biggest sitcom. They could and should have intervened at any point, and they didn’t.

Jane — CBS… they finally have something decent and evil incarnate is at the root. I’m not surprised.
Prince — I’m sure the string of women who have been abused, beaten (one even died, did you know that?) and manhandled would disagree with you. As do I. If you or I wanna go out and do drugs and cause problems and hurt people, you and I go to jail. This waste of space gets to roam the streets, free.
–Jeff

I think the key is in what your father said (he sounds great, by the way). Second chances are for those who are willing to cease them, or at least realize that they need help ceasing the second chance and ask for it. Most of us need a second chance or three at some point. Heck, I think multiple second chances are appropriate for folks who failed to fully cease the first one, provided there were definite signs of effort and improvement. But people like Sheen who repeatedly don’t even try to learn from their mistakes need to be left on their knees the next time they fall. I just feel bad for the film crew, writers and other staff who played no role in enabling Sheen and will now lose their jobs if they cancel the series.
– Kristenhttp://blithescribe.mlblogs.com/

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